Chersonesus in Sevastopol under threat due to construction works – Historian

Construction was launched on Cape Khrustalny, where an unexplored part of the Chora of Chersonese is located, as well as the remains of the fortifications of Menshikov Fort and Aleksandrovsky Ravelin

SEVASTOPOL / AQ-YAR (QHA) -

In Sevastopol, the object listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ancient City of Tauric Chersonesos and its Chora, was threatened.

Historian Aleksei Motov informed QHA that on November 13, the construction of the Museum Theater and Educational Complex began on Cape Khrustalny.

Cape Khrustalny itself does not concern to territory of reserve. However, on the construction site an unexplored part of the Chora of Chersonese, remnants of the fortifications of Fort Menshikov and Aleksandrovsky Ravelin are situated.

“Archaeological research in other areas around the ancient city (near the Fiolent ring) indicate that on the site where the construction was launched, the ruins of ancient estates, necropolises might be situated,” the historian said.

In addition, multi-storey buildings cannot be erected on this site, which follows from the "Plan of Sevastopol by definition of protected areas and their buffer zones."

The construction contractor is the company Stroygazmontazh, known for the construction of the Kerch bridge.

The LLC Gasregion LLC became the contractor for the construction and installation works, which, together with the aforementioned company, was engaged in the construction of new buildings at the International Children's Center Artek in 2017-2018.

Companies that started construction in Sevastopol are related to the destruction of the Muslim cemetery Gurzuf-aziz, according to Motov.

“What will they destroy in Sevastopol?” the historian wonders.

In March 2018, UNESCO published a report on the deterioration of the situation with the protection of cultural heritage in the Crimea occupied by the Russian Federation. The document indicated violations of the occupation authorities in the field of protection of cultural heritage. The organization also demanded that the Russian authorities immediately cease construction work leading to the destruction of the Khan's Palace in Bakhchysarai.

On October 4, the 7th information meeting of UNESCO on monitoring the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea was held, where an intention was confirmed to begin the first phase of monitoring in the occupied Crimea in the short term.

According to the ex-director of the Bakhchysarai Historical and Cultural Reserve Elmira Ablylimova, the state of the cultural heritage will be the object of attention of the UNESCO monitoring mission in the occupied Crimea and several more issues.